Using Arrow Keys to navigate in the Console

Question

Im making a menu. I want to use arrow keys to select from my list.

char move;

do
{
    move = (char)_getch();
    if (move == 38)
    {
         // Move Indicator Up   
    }
    else if (move == 40)
    {
         // Move Indicator Down
    }
}
while (move != 13);

Am i using the wrong ascii values for up and down keys?

SOLVED

i replaced (char)_getch() to (int)_getch() and char move to int move then 38 and 40 to ?? and 80

Are you sure this is C# code? Based on your call to `_getch`, it looks more like C. — Joe White, Jul 19 '11 at 11:30
Are you P/Invoking `_getch()` from `msvcrt.dll`? And if so, **why**? — Cody Gray - on strike, Jul 19 '11 at 11:40
i dont now why. i used it in my previous maze game and it works properly. i;m just having a hard time when it comes to arrow keys. — Reinan Contawi, Jul 19 '11 at 11:46
Instead of marking the question text as "SOLVED" you should accept an answer. — K Mehta, Jul 19 '11 at 11:47
accept an answer!? I didn't get the answer I want yet. not now. :)) — Reinan Contawi, Jul 19 '11 at 11:47
both answers underneath seem to work :) Are they not what you're looking for? Unless you have a very good reason to, you shouldn't pinvoke c functions into c# if there is a c# counterpart for it already. — K Mehta, Jul 19 '11 at 11:50
It's solved now. 80 is for down and 72 is for up. Thanks for the effort guys. I'll choose an answer still. — Reinan Contawi, Jul 19 '11 at 11:50
Uh, you should be using `Console.Read` or `Console.ReadKey`. P/Invoking `_getch()` is definitely the wrong solution. Check [here](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms395663) for C# equivalents to CRT functions. — Cody Gray - on strike, Jul 19 '11 at 11:57
@ReinanContawi: If no answer was correct because your question was too trivial or too localized to your particular issue, please try to solve it yourself. Asking a question for every tiny incremental change you make to your code is considered [help vampirism](http://slash7.com/2006/12/22/vampires/) and will result in your account being blocked from asking questions. — , Jul 19 '11 at 15:51

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 19 '11 at 11:41

6

Seems like you're DllImporting msvcrt.dll to use _getch()

Try using Console.ReadKey()

ConsoleKeyInfo keyInfo = Console.ReadKey();
if (keyInfo.Key == ConsoleKey.UpArrow) {

} else if (keyInfo.Key == ConsoleKey.DownArrow) {

} ...

answered Jul 19 '11 at 11:41

K Mehta

10,323
4
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score 1 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:23

1

In case we are talking about a WinForms application i would recommend you to use the Control.KeyDown Event. "Console.Read()" doesn't work for WinForms applications.

Update Example for menu navigation with arrow key for console application in C#. >> Sample 1 Sample 2

edited May 23 '17 at 12:23

Community

1
1

answered Jul 19 '11 at 11:33

Alexander

3,724
8
42
50

Using Arrow Keys to navigate in the Console

2 Answers2